Saturday, December 12, 2015

Split over two sides of vinyl or strung together digitally,
this album features the legendary free jazz saxophonist Peter Brotzmann along
with Keiji Haino and Jim O’Rourke on guitars. They play balanced and exciting
free improvisation over the course of two tracks, “Two City Blues 1” and “Eyes
Stay the Same.” Together the three musicians make an interesting musical
gathering where free jazz meets experimental post rock. The music is very
impressive, they forgo bass and drums for slashing guitar work and torrid and
pungent saxophone playing, projecting their music forcefully and confidently.
They move with barreling and blistering power, but remain well connected to
each other, and seem quite comfortable interacting in this challenging
environment. Dynamic shifts in tone and volume allow the music to ride swells
from ominous abstraction through to howling full volume collective
improvisation. Brotzmann’s horn has more than enough power to match the two
electric guitarists, as they make their way navigating through an infinite journey
through sound. The guitars spark, scratch and sparkle on both lengthy tracks
with Brotzmann weaving in between or howling overhead. Everything seems to be coming
from a deep tributary that each of the musicians is able to tap into, melding
pure sound into an emotionally accomplished performance.